After studying in Lille, I built my career at the interface of catalysis, sustainable chemistry and international cooperation, before extending my responsibilities to research leadership and knowledge transfer.

Education and appointments

• 1998 — PhD at the University of Science and Technology of Lille, on the improvement of alumina-supported Co-Mo hydrodesulphurisation catalysts.
• 1999–2001 — STA postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, Tsukuba, Japan.
• 2001–2005 — Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology: JSPS postdoctoral fellowship, followed by a fixed-term faculty appointment within the Center of Excellence programme.
• 2005 — Habilitation to supervise research in Lille, on catalysis and the environment; return to France supported by a Marie Curie reintegration grant.
• Since 2006 — Professor at the University of Lille.
• 2010–2021 — Deputy Director, then Director of UCCS.
• Since 2022 — Vice-President of the University of Lille for knowledge transfer and science–society relations.

Franco-Japanese cooperation

My six years and four months in Japan established lasting scientific, educational and industrial collaborations. These continue through joint research, visiting researchers, mobility programmes and invited teaching. In 2003, I passed the former Level 1 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), the highest level available at the time.

Selected honours

• Junior member, Institut universitaire de France (2010–2015).
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (since 2014).
• Étoiles de l’Europe award for coordinating EuroBioRef (2014).
• Glycerine Innovation Award, American Oil Chemists’ Society (2015).
• Chevalier des Palmes académiques (2019).
• Distinguished senior member, Société Chimique de France (2021–2026).